Texas Earthquakes Traced to Oil Fields. Is the State Doing Enough to Protect Residents and the Environment?

Scurry County, Texas, has declared a state of emergency after a staggering 103 earthquakes shook the region in just eight days, with officials citing damage to businesses and residences. The likely culprit? The oil industry.

A Man-Made Disaster

The quakes are "almost 99% likely" linked to local oil fields, according to Justin Rubinstein, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey. The cause is believed to be new drilling technology that reaches deeply buried oil and gas deposits. The problem is compounded by the large amounts of "produced water" that come up with the oil, which must then be pumped back underground, potentially triggering earthquakes.

A Wake-Up Call for Texas

The situation in Scurry County should serve as a stark warning to Texas regulators and the oil and gas industry. The Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates the industry, has only just begun to investigate the connection between fluid injection and seismic activity, and has shut down two deep disposal wells in the area. With the impact already being felt by residents and businesses, one has to wonder: is it too little, too late?

The Human Cost

The human toll of these earthquakes must not be overlooked. Workers in the Scurry County Courthouse described feeling alarmed as trophies rattled and pictures bounced off the walls during a 5.0 quake. This is not an isolated incident, and with each quake posing a greater risk of damage and injury, the people of Scurry County are living in constant fear and uncertainty.

A Call to Action

It is imperative that Texas officials and the oil industry take drastic and immediate action to address this man-made disaster. The potential consequences of inaction are dire, and the people of Scurry County deserve better.

Magnitude of the Quakes

For context, the earthquakes in Scurry County have reached up to magnitude 5.0, which is considered moderate on the moment magnitude scale. Each increase on this logarithmic scale represents a tenfold increase in strength, so a 6.0 quake would be significantly more powerful and devastating.

Texas Must Do Better

Texas cannot afford to be complacent about seismic activity, especially when it is man-made and preventable. The state has a responsibility to its citizens and the environment to hold the oil and gas industry to a higher standard and ensure that profit is not prioritized over people's lives and wellbeing.

URL for reference: https://www.co.scurry.tx.us/page/article/32